EP3367412A1 - Relay - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a relay (11) having an electromagnetic drive (13) with an excitation coil (37) arranged around a plane defining iron core (21) and a yoke (23). The electromagnetic drive (13) cooperates with a movable armature (15) which can switch a movable electrical contact (117) via an actuating arrangement. The relay (11) is housed in a housing (133), wherein between the electromagnetic drive (13) and the contact (117), an intermediate floor resp. a partition wall (17) is provided. In this case, the electromagnetic drive (13) on one side of the partition wall (17) and the movable electrical contact (117) on the other side of the partition (17) is arranged. The partition wall (17) has an opening (99) through which the mechanical actuation of the contact is carried out. Because the armature (15) is pivotable about an axis of rotation (55) perpendicular to the plane of the iron core (21), the relay (11) can be made lower than conventional relays.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a relay according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

The German patent application DE-OS-38 35 105 shows an electromagnetic relay having a gate-shaped iron core, the central portion is inserted into a groove of an exciter coil body with a press fit, wherein on the excitation coil body and the iron core contained therein, an excitation coil is wound. The electromagnetic drive cooperates with a U-shaped armature having on the underside of the one end portion a foot part and this opposite a stop member which limits the pivot angle of the armature. In addition, a recess is provided on the upper side of the armature opposite the foot part. This recess cooperates with a projection in the upper right corner of the iron core, which should prevent the lifting of the armature. At the upper anchor an actuating part of insulating material is attached, which cooperates with a leaf spring arrangement.

The leaf spring assembly consists of a stationary leaf spring and a movable leaf spring, both of which are arranged on an insulating support member so that the contacts of the two leaf springs face each other and at a distance. At the opposite end portions of the support member are wall parts from above, the center-oriented walls lie in the same plane. Before the wall parts are provided in the bottom of the support member depending on an insertion through hole. The one through-hole serves to receive the anchor foot, and the other cooperates with the abutment of the anchor to limit its swing angle. On the side of the anchor foot part, a further wall element is provided at a distance from a wall element, which prevents the armature from falling outwards.

In the relay described, the armature is held in a stable position by the foot part, the recess cooperating with the projection of the iron core, and the further wall element, so that the armature can not tilt when actuated.

A relay with a similar construction disclosed EP-A-2 226 827 , This is characterized by a high position accuracy of the armature and thus hardly changeable operating characteristics. In this relay, an L-shaped armature on opposite sides of the short leg each have a projection, one of which is received in a blind hole in the base and the other in a recess of the electromagnetic block. Opposite the projections, a stopper is provided on the underside of the armature, which engages in a, the deflection of the armature limiting recess in the base. The anchor has in the middle part of a sheath made of plastic on which on one side a projection is formed. This projection protrudes through a recess in the partition wall and is in contact with a movable contact spring which biases the armature into a limited by the stopper receiving recess limited end position.

Relays with an analogous structure are also in the patent applications EP-A-1 298 691 and EP-A-2 838 1101 described. The above-described relay has in common that they have a gate-shaped iron core with an exciting coil disposed thereon and an armature arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the iron core.

A relay with a different structure shows the EP-A-1 143 474 the same applicant. The relay has an electromagnetic drive consisting of a coil which can be connected to a control current and a core / yoke and a movable armature. The electromagnetic drive is arranged on one side of a partition wall parallel to the core, wherein the armature is pivotable about an axis of rotation parallel to the plane of the partition wall. A movable by means of the armature comb and a series of a plurality of arranged on an electrically insulating support member contacts are arranged on the other side of the partition wall. The contacts consist of at least two contact elements and can be actuated by the drive. In each case at least one of the contact elements is connected to a power connection element on the outside of the relay. Likewise, in each case at least one of the contact elements, the same or a second, formed by an elongated contact spring. The spring longitudinal axis of this contact spring is arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the comb and parallel to the plane of the partition, and the contact spring is through forcibly guided the crest. The contact spring is seated at one end with a spring foot in the support part. The spring foot opposite end is movable and provided with a contact head. For optimal construction of the relay, the contact springs between the comb and the partition wall are arranged. As a result, the length of the armature occupy the entire height of the relay, whereby a relatively large comb path is achieved with low height and small footprint of the relay.

The relay of EP-A-1 143 474 is a safety relay with positively driven contacts according to EN 61810-3, ie the clearances and creepage distances between the control contact and the load contact comply with the requirements of IEC 61810-5 and IEC 664-1. Also between conductive parts of the different load contacts distances as a function of voltage, degree of contamination and field of application must be observed. The security also serves the restraint of the contacts.

A positively driven relay is understood to be a relay in which the contacts are forcibly guided with a common, movable drive-connected comb and in which at least one make contact and one normally closed contact are provided. Forcibly guided means that in each case a contact element is present at a fixed stop and a cooperating with this contact element movable contact spring engages in the comb in such a way that it is necessarily moved with the movements of the comb. This ensures that when a contact welded, either the welded contact is torn apart, or the comb can not be moved and therefore the other contacts, including the normally closed contact, must remain in the given by the welding position.

EP-A-1 986 206 discloses an electromagnetic relay with a small thickness. The relay comprises an electromagnetic drive consisting of an iron core, a yoke connected to the iron core and a coil, and an armature which is held by means of a spring at the armature and biased in the open position. The armature is approximately L-shaped and has a first leg, which is substantially rectangular and can cover the end face of the drive. The second leg of the armature is narrower than the first leg and formed from its flat side at an angle of just over 90 degrees. The second leg cooperates with an elastically deformable actuating part made of plastic. The actuating member in turn acts on a central spring contact, which rests in the de-energized state of the electromagnetic drive to a first fixed contact element, and in the energized state a second, fixed contact element. In order to be able to act on the central contact, a passage opening for a projection of the actuating part is provided in the first, fixed contact element. At the relay of EP-A-1 986 209 thus ensures the movable actuator at the same time for electrical separation of the contacts of the electromagnetic drive. The acting as an actuating arm narrow leg of the armature rotates about an axis of rotation which is perpendicular to the flat side of the iron core.

Although the relays described above are already built very compact, there is a need to miniaturize them even further.

Object of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to further develop the relay described last so that it occupies even less space. It is to be proposed a miniaturized relay with a compact design, in which a safe, permanent operation is guaranteed. Yet another goal is to propose a relay that works reliably even with shocks. In addition, the relay should also be easy to assemble and optimally adjustable.

Description of the invention

The invention relates to a relay with an electromagnetic drive with a coil and a yoke and a cooperating with the electromagnetic drive, movable armature. The armature is in mechanical connection via an actuating arrangement with a movable, electrical contact. Between the electromagnetic drive and the contact a stationary, non-movable partition wall is arranged, wherein the electromagnetic drive is arranged on the one side of the partition wall and the movable electrical contact on the other side of the partition wall. The partition wall has an opening through which the mechanical actuation of the contact is carried out.

According to the invention, the object is achieved in the above-mentioned relay in that the armature about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the plane of the iron core is pivotable and the actuating arrangement comprises an actuating arm which passes through the opening. This arrangement makes it possible to build the electromagnetic drive lower than when the axis of rotation of the armature is horizontal to the plane of the iron core. Spool and coil are therefore rectangular in cross-section, wherein the width of the coil is at least 1.5 times and preferably at least 2 times greater than the height.

Advantageously, means are provided to push the armature against the yoke. These pressing means have the purpose to hold the one end portion of the armature at the end face of the yoke.

According to a preferred embodiment, the anchor is held by an anchor holder which is placed on the yoke. This embodiment has the advantage that it is inexpensive and is independent of the positioning of the electromagnetic drive relative to the partition wall or to the housing.

Advantageously, the anchor holder on a spring which biases the armature against the end face of the yoke. The spring presses that end portion of the armature about which the armature is pivoted to the end face of the yoke. This is a simple and efficient design.

Conveniently, the spring is formed on the stop member. This has the advantage that only one component is necessary for fixing the armature.

Preferably, the spring has a bent end portion which can engage in a recess on the armature. This has the advantage that the anchor is accurately positioned and held by the spring on the anchor holder.

Advantageously, the anchor has a disposed at the bottom resp. from a narrow side of the armature projecting actuating arm, which is in mechanical communication with the actuating part. The actuating arm can pass through the plane spanned by the partition wall and actuate the existing on the other side of the partition actuating part, wherein the actuating arm could also be part of the actuating part.

Advantageously, the armature is a substantially rectangular iron plate on which the actuating arm is formed or formed at an end portion opposite to that about which the armature rotates. In the plan view, therefore, the armature with the actuating arm advantageously has a substantially L-shape and not a T-shape as in the cited prior art. Due to the asymmetric shape of the armature act on the actuation of the relay, the forces corresponding asymmetrically to the armature and there is a fundamental risk that the armature stands on the side of the actuating arm of the pole face. However, this can be counteracted by a corresponding design of the anchor holder.

According to another, independent aspect, the subject of the present invention is a relay according to the preamble of claim 11, which has a positioning pin on the yoke, which received positively in an opening in the partition wall. The positioning pin serves as a base point for the adjustment between the pole face of the drive and the contact arrangement on the other side of the partition wall. This has great advantages for the exact positioning of the drive with yoke and armature and the contacts on the other side of the partition.

Advantageously, the positioning pin is an extension of the pole plate, i. an extension of the front end of the yoke.

Preferably, one or more elevations are provided on the inner wall of the opening. These have the purpose to press the positioning pin to a specific wall of the opening and to position accurately.

Fig. 1:

Eine Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemässen Relais mit einem elektromagnetischen Antrieb, einem Anker, einer Trennwand, einer Kontaktanordnung und einem Gehäuse mit Boden in Explosionsdarstellung und von der Magnetkreisseite her betrachtet;

Fig. 2:

Das Relais von Fig. 1, ebenfalls in Explosionsdarstellung, jedoch von der Kontaktraumseite her betrachtet;

Fig. 3:

Eine perspektivische Ansicht des Relais, jedoch ohne Gehäuse;

Fig. 4

Eine perspektivische Unteransicht des Relais ohne Gehäuse und Boden;

Fig. 5

Die Trennwand mit Joch in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 6

Eine Unteransicht der Trennwand, jedoch ohne die Kontaktanordnung;

Fig. 7

Einen Ankerhalter in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 8

Der elektromagnetische Antrieb im Schnitt;

Fig. 9

Schematisch die Drehachsen des Ankers;

Fig. 10

Eine Teilansicht des Relais von Fig. 4, jedoch ohne Positionierstift.

An embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the figures. It shows:

Fig. 1:

An embodiment of a relay according to the invention with an electromagnetic drive, an armature, a partition, a contact arrangement and a housing with bottom in an exploded view and viewed from the magnetic circuit side;

Fig. 2:

The relay of Fig. 1 also in an exploded view, but viewed from the contact space side;

3:

A perspective view of the relay, but without housing;

Fig. 4

A perspective bottom view of the relay without housing and bottom;

Fig. 5

The partition with yoke in perspective view;

Fig. 6

A bottom view of the partition, but without the contact arrangement;

Fig. 7

An anchor holder in perspective view;

Fig. 8

The electromagnetic drive in section;

Fig. 9

Schematically, the axes of rotation of the anchor;

Fig. 10

A partial view of the relay of Fig. 4 , but without positioning pin.

The essential components of the in the FIGS. 1 to 8 Relays 11 shown are an electromagnetic drive 13, an actuatable by the electromagnetic drive 13 anchor 15, an intermediate floor or partition 17 and a contact assembly 19, which are described in more detail below in this order.

The electromagnetic driver 13 includes a flat iron core 21 and a yoke 23 disposed thereon. Both the iron core 21 and the yoke 23 are made of a flat piece of ferromagnetic iron. The iron core 21 is rectangular in plan view, wherein in the middle of a narrow side 25, a projection 27 is provided ( Fig. 8 ). The yoke 23 has an L-shape with a short leg 29 and a long leg 31, wherein the center planes of the two legs 29,31 are perpendicular to the median plane of the iron core 21. At the free end of the long leg 31, a rectangular projecting positioning pin 32 is provided, whose function will be described in more detail below.

To connect iron core 21 and yoke 23, the projection 27 of the iron core 21 is positively received in a through hole 33 of the leg 29 and preferably realized as a press fit. Between the leg 31 and an iron core side, a gap 34 is provided, which serves to receive a bobbin 35 and wound thereon exciting coil 37 in the shape of a flattened cuboid. At the front end wall 39 of the bobbin 35 are spaced apart two receptacles 41 for each one terminal pins 43 of the excitation coil 37 is provided. formed.

The armature 15 is arranged on the front side of the electromagnetic drive 13. This is also made of a ferromagnetic material. The armature 15 is rectangular in shape and has approximately the same dimensions as the short leg 29 of the yoke 23. On the underside of the armature 15, an elongated actuating arm 45 is provided, which is provided with an actuating part 47 made of an insulating material (s. Fig. 1 . 2 and 4 ) can work together. The front side 49 of the armature 15 is in the activated state of the relay substantially flush with the outer flat side 51 of the yoke 23, wherein the voltage applied to the end 53 of the leg 31 side edge defines a pivot axis 55 about which the armature 15 is ideally pivoted in operation ( 8 and 9 ). As can be seen from the figures, the armature 15 has a truncated pyramidal end portion 56, so that the armature 15 does not abut against the one terminal pin 41 in the opened state.

The armature 15 is held in an anchor holder 57 which is attachable to the leg 31 of the yoke 23. The anchor holder 57 is made of a resilient thin copper sheet. The anchor holder 57 comprises a rectangular base part 59, which rests in the finished relay on the flat side 51 of the leg 31. From the base part 59 are at a right angle a locking part 61 and this opposite holding arms 63a, 63b, from. The locking part 61 has a recess 62 which can cooperate with a provided on the upper narrow side 65a of the leg 31 locking projection 64 for the purpose of producing a positive connection ( Fig. 3 ). On the opposite narrow side 65b of the leg 31, the holding arm 61a engages. This has in addition an inwardly projecting locking tongue 67 which hangs on the inside of the leg 31 when the anchor holder 57 is pushed onto the yoke 23 ( Fig. 8 ). This is the anchor holder 57th exactly fixed to the yoke 23 in the position. Between the holding arm 61b and the locking part 61 of the armature 15 is clamped.

The armature holder 45 further comprises a rectangular abutment part 71 protruding at an angle of slightly more than 90 degrees. This is intended to limit the deflection of the armature about the axis of rotation 55. If one considers the armature against the iron core as the starting position, then the stopper part 71 limits the deflection of the armature at a maximum of 12 degrees, preferably at a maximum of 8 degrees.

At the stopper part 71, an armature holding spring 73 is provided. This is according to the advantageous embodiment shown integral with the stop member 71 and prepared by a rectangular piece along three edges of the stop member 71 is cut or punched out and bent so that it protrudes at an angle from the plane of the stop member 71. An edge portion 79 of the armature retaining spring 73 is also additionally bent. With this edge portion 79, the armature holding spring 73 can engage in a depression 83 provided on the outer side 81 of the armature and press the armature 15 against the end face 85 of the yoke (FIG. 8 and 9 ,

The serving as an intermediate bottom partition wall 17 separates the electromagnetic drive 13 of the contact assembly 19 and also serves as a support floor for the electromagnetic drive 13. The partition wall 17 has on the first side upwardly projecting ribs 91a, 91b, each flush with the outside 93rd the intermediate wall 17 are ( Fig. 1 ). At a distance from the rib 91a, a further upwardly projecting rib 95 is provided, which forms a space for receiving the yoke leg 31 in connection with the rib 91a. In the front end portion 17 two larger through holes 97,99 are provided in the intermediate wall, through which the receptacles 41 with the connection pins 43 and the actuating arm 45 of the armature 15 can protrude.

Another hole 101 in the intermediate wall 17 serves to receive the positioning pin 32 (FIG. Fig. 1 and 6 ). This is pressed by small, provided on the inside of the hole 101 elevations 103 to the front inner wall 105 ( FIGS. 6 and 10 ). In addition, the two remaining inner walls can be slightly conical.

On the second side of the partition wall 17 a plurality of subdivisions 109 divided compartments 111 are present, each of the arrangement of a contact pair 113th serve ( Fig. 1 and 2 ). Each contact pair 113 consists of a fixed contact element 115 with contact pin 116 and a movable contact element 117 with contact pin 118. The contact elements 115,117 are received with their foot parts 119, 121 in pockets 123 ( Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 ).

The intermediate walls 109 have recesses 125 in which a comb 127 acting as an actuating part 47 is accommodated ( Fig. 6 ). The comb 127, which is movable in the direction of its longitudinal axis, has entrainment members 128 (see FIG. FIG. 2 ), in which the upwardly projecting cams 131 of the movable contact elements 117 are received. With its front end 129 of the comb 127 is applied to the actuating arm 45 and biases it by the spring force of the movable contact elements 117 in a first end position in which the armature 15 is removed from the yoke 23. This is the case when the excitation coil 37 is not active. If the excitation coil 37 is energized, the armature 15 is pulled to the yoke 23 and the contacts switched.

The equipped with the contact assembly 19 partition 17 and the electromagnetic drive 13 are received in the finished state in a housing 133 which is closed by a bottom part 135. The bottom part 135 has a plurality of webs 137, which are arranged between the individual contact pairs 113 in order to improve the tracking resistance of the relay. On the long side walls 139 latching projections 141 are provided, which can engage in corresponding latch grooves 143 on the inner wall 145 of the housing 133. In the bottom part 135 a plurality of through openings 147 are provided for the contact pins 116,118 and connection pins 43.

In the FIG. 9 the arrow 149 points to that point 150 on the actuating arm 45, at which the comb 127 prestressed by the contact springs of the movable contacts 117 engages with its front end 129. By the attack on the actuating arm 45, the armature 15 would rotate both about the vertical axis of rotation 55 (arrow 153) and about an axis of rotation 151 (arrow 155). This would open a gap 157 between the end face 53 yoke 23 and the armature 15 and lead to a weakening of the magnetic field. However, this disadvantageous effect can be prevented with the armature holding spring 73, which presses the armature 15 against the end face 53 of the yoke leg 31.

The embodiment shown in the figures of a relay 11 has three pairs of contacts 113 and is designed as a so-called safety relay with positively driven contacts. However, the invention is not limited to safety relays with positively driven contacts, but can also be used in ordinary relays without positively driven contacts.

Legend

11

relay

13

electromagnetic drive

15

anchor

17

partition wall

19

Contact configuration

21

iron core

23

yoke

25

Narrow side of the iron core

27

head Start

29

short thigh

31

long thigh

32

positioning

33

Through hole in the short leg 29

34

Gap between leg 31 and the adjacent anchor side

35

bobbins

37

excitation coil

39

End wall of the bobbin

41

Recordings for connection pins

43

connector pins

45

actuating arm

47

actuating member

49

Front side of the anchor

51

outer flat side of the leg 31

53

Front side of the leg 31

55

Vertical axis of rotation

56

End portion of the armature 15th

57

anchor bracket

59

base

61

catch part

63a, 63b

Front support arms

65a, 65b

Upper and lower narrow sides of the leg 31

67

locking tab

69

gap

71

Stop part

73

Anchor retaining spring

75

First axis of rotation

77

stop part

79

edge section

81

Outside of the anchor

83

Recess on the outside of the anchor

85

Front side 85 of the yoke

91a, 91b

ribs

93

Outside of the partition

95

rib

97.99

Through holes in the intermediate wall

101

Hole in the intermediate wall for positioning pin

103

provided on the inside of the hole 101 increases

105

Inner wall of the hole

109

partitions

111

compartments

113

contact pair

115

contact element

116

pin

117

movable contact element

118

Contact pin of the movable contact element

119

Foot part of the fixed contact element

121

Foot part of the movable contact element

123

Bags for holding the headboards

125

recesses

127

Comb

128

takeaway

129

front end of the comb

131

cam

133

casing

135

the bottom part

137

Stege

139

side walls

141

latching projections

143

Rest grooves

145

Inner wall of the housing

147

Passages in the floor

149

arrow

150

Point of attack on the actuating arm 45

151

Horizontal axis of rotation

153

Direction of rotation about the axis of rotation 55

155

Direction of rotation about the axis of rotation 151

157

gap

Claims (14)

Relay (11) with an electromagnetic drive (13) having an exciter coil (37) arranged around an iron core (21) defining a plane and a yoke (23), a movable armature (15) cooperating with the electromagnetic drive (13), a movable electrical contact (117) which is connected via an actuating arrangement (45, 127) to the armature (15), a housing (133) having a stationary partition wall (17) arranged between the electromagnetic drive (13) and the contact (117), the electromagnetic drive being mounted on one side of the partition (17) and the movable electrical contact (117) on the side the other side of the partition (17) is arranged and the partition wall (17) has an opening (99) through which the mechanical actuation of the contact is carried out, characterized, - That the armature (15) about an axis of rotation (55) perpendicular to the plane of the iron core (21) is pivotable and an actuating arm (45) which passes through the opening in the partition wall (17) and for actuating the movable electrical contact with the Actuating member (127) of the actuator assembly cooperates. Relay according to Claim 1, characterized in that means (73) are provided to urge the armature (15) against the yoke (23). Relay according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the armature (15) by an armature holder (57) is held, which is mounted on the yoke (23). Relay according to Claim 3, characterized in that the armature holder (57) has a spring (73) which biases the armature (15) against the end face (85) of the yoke (23). Relay according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the armature holder (57) comprises an abutment part (61) projecting at an angle which limits the deflection of the armature (15). Relay according to Claim 5, characterized in that the spring (73) is formed on the stop part (61). Relay according to claim 6, characterized in that the spring (73) has a bent end portion (79) which can engage in a recess (83) on the armature (15). Relay according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the armature (15) has an actuating arm (45) which projects substantially at right angles from a narrow side of the armature (15) and is in mechanical connection with the actuating part (127). Relay according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the actuating arm (45) on the pivot axis (55) opposite side of the armature (15) is formed. Relay according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the relay is a safety relay with positively driven contacts (113). Relay with an electromagnetic drive (13) having an exciter coil (37) arranged around an iron core (21) defining a plane and a yoke (23), a movable armature (15) cooperating with the electromagnetic drive (13), - A movable electrical contact (117) which is connected via an actuating arrangement with the armature (15), a housing (133) with a partition wall (17) arranged between the electromagnetic drive (13) and the contact (117), characterized,
that a positioning pin (32) is provided on the yoke (23), which is received in a form-fitting manner in an opening (101) in the dividing wall (17). Relay according to Claim 11, characterized in that the positioning pin (32) is an extension of the pole plate (85) of the armature (15). Relay according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that on the inner wall of the opening (101) one or more elevations are provided. Relay according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the excitation coil (37) in cross section is at least 1.5 times and more preferably at least 2 times wider than high.

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